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By Henry Umahi
It could be said that the Aja Nwachukwu family of Okposi community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is synonymous with education. The patriarch of the family was Nigeria’s first indigenous Minister of Education. Forty years later, his son, Dr Igwe Aja Nwachukwu, also became Minister of Education. In 1994, his daughter in-law, Chief Beatrice Aja-Nwachukwu, was appointed as Education Commissioner in the old Abia State. She was later appointed Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture.
She later transferred her service to the Federal Civil Service and rose to the rank of director of administration.
In this chat, the Ugomba 1 of Okposi x-rayed the content and character of the polity, regretting that there is too much bitterness in the system. She spoke about various issues, including incessant strikes by university lecturers, the nuisance value of the social media and her love for pounded yam and Afang soup.
You went to school when most girls in your area didn’t have access to education. What was the experience like then?
You rightly said it. Many parents didn’t like sending their female children to school that time, particularly in our area. But my father had girls first and he insisted that he would send them to school. Many people, including uncles and friends tried to discourage him but he refused and sent us to school. He sent my younger sister and I to school and he encouraged us. Besides, I liked schooling. I completed my primary education in 1958. I wrote my school certificate examination in 1963 at Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Thereafter, I wanted to do sciences – nursing or pharmacy. I got admission into a science school in Lagos but after one year, some friends told me it was a waste of time to do higher school. So, I took the advice, and I was admitted at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1964/65 session to do Languages. My parents insisted that I should do Languages because that was the in-thing then. But shortly after that, the civil war started and we had to leave. As a girl, I couldn’t continue waiting, so I got married. I had a baby when school reopened and it was a very difficult situation. But because of the love I had for school, I took the baby to school. She was just one month.
On reaching Nsukka, they said our class would be going to do one year abroad and I had a small baby. I didn’t know what to do.
But because of the love I had for education and encouragement from my parents in-law, I went. But I didn’t go with others. They came to Lagos and we’re almost finishing their medicals when I joined them. Even some enlightened people were asking me why I should leave the only baby I had then and go to school. I told them my baby was in good hands; there was no cause for alarm. I joined my colleagues to Senegal and France in search of French Language. I graduated in 1970.
You are married to one of the Aja-Nwachukwus. What striking things has the name done for you along your career life?
We are a close family. My father is married to the younger sister to my father in-law. My father and my father in-law were very close. In fact, they didn’t have any hand in our marriage. My husband and I just liked one another. I married out of love, not for any other thing. My father was not a pauper. I didn’t expect anything in particular from them. It was okay; my mother-in-law assisted me even when my husband was studying abroad. I lived with them even before I got married. They didn’t even know that I had some relationship with their son. I married because of the son, not because of the father. But on the whole, Aja Nwachukwu is a worthy name; it stands you out.
You served under a military government as Commissioner for Education in Abia State. What was your experience, especially considering what is obtainable today under civilian administration?
I was a civil servant in the Ministry of Defence, but I was involved with schools, meeting people and helping them. I was not a politician before I was made a Commissioner for Education. My experience was not bad because our governor was nice and he gave everybody a chance to do whatever we wanted to do for our people. He was always supportive. I was able to do things for my people when I was a Commissioner for Education in Abia State. The Federal Government College in my area was taken away to Enugu during the war due to politics. They gave flimsy excuses. So, when I became commissioner, it was a burden in my heart. I told the governor and he said I should write a memo and we convened an exco meeting. He said I should copy other commissioners and I did. Most of them agreed but one who had interest in that school opposed. But by God’s grace, we succeeded. I served as commissioner under two governors.
Due to my track record, the teachers did not play with me. I helped people to get jobs. I helped those who joined their husbands from elsewhere to regularise their appointments and collect appointment letters for them. That was why I was popular there. I never lobbied for anything; I didn’t even know that a civil servant could be a commissioner.
What do you think should be done to make Nigeria’s education system more useful to Nigerians?
It is a difficult task for now because things are getting worse by the day. People come out of school and there is no job for them. Another issue is the number of years people spend in the university because of incessant strikes. I think the government should take the issue of education more seriously.
Government should try and create jobs as well as encourage young people to go into private ventures by creating the enabling environment. Of course, government cannot provide jobs for everyone. People should be supported to be on their own. The system should be redesigned in such a way that people will start working on their own when they leave school. Again, jobs should not be on the basis of who do you know. They should give opportunity to everyone; let things be done on merit. I understand that some jobs are being sold at exorbitant prices. That one should be stopped.
Your father-in-law was Nigeria’s pioneer Minister of Education and his son, Igwe, occupied the same position 40 years after. Yet, you were Commissioner for Education. Will it be safe to say that the name Ajanwachuku is synonymous with education?
First, I was Commissioner for Education but later became Commissioner for Information, Youths and Culture. I think it’s the grace of God that we found ourselves in such places. My father in-law didn’t influence my appointment as education commissioner. My husband supported me all the way even in difficult times. For example, when I was nominated to attend Command and Staff College, Jaji I told him to get a medical report that I was medically unfit because he was sick and he refused. He said he would not stand on the way of my career. Even when I had a baby, he encouraged me to continue. He took care of my baby while I studied abroad. Some men would not allow you to do all that.
What has life thought you?
One of the lessons life has thought me is that wherever you are, you should try to do good as much as possible. You should try to touch lives. I always feel happy when I put a smile on the face of somebody who has a problem. And that is something that has been driving me even from childhood. I wouldn’t say I’m from a very rich family but at least they provided my needs and I shared with my little friends when I was younger. Again, when I was in the position, anybody that came into my office and said he was looking for a job, I would go the extra mile to assist. Initially, our people were a bit late in education, so when they started up, I decided to help them as much as possible. From my experience in life, the good you do is not an effort in futility. Even if those people that you did it for do not reward you, God will still reward you in one way or another. I can remember some incidents to prove this. No matter the situation, always try to do good. Of course, it’s not everyone that you helped that would appreciate you. But it doesn’t matter.
Do you have any regret in life?
I don’t have any regret because God did everything for me. I worked as a teacher and I reached the peak of my career. I became a principal at 30. God has been with me all the time; whatever I wanted He always assisted me to do it. I transferred to the Federal Civil Service and retired as a director. In fact, I was to be a Permanent Secretary but some people aborted it. But I thank God for everything.
What would be your advice to the girl-child?
Every girl child is aware now that education is very important for everyone. It is said that if you train a woman, you train a nation. Most of the women in my area are now going to school because I have given them example. Our parents have now known the importance of educating the girl-child. I urge them to keep it up. They should create an enabling environment for the girls to be able to compete on equal basis with the boys, even in appointments and politics.
What is your favourite meal and how do you relax?
I enjoy pounded yam with Afang soup and fish. I relax by reading and mobile phone has made it easier. I read from the phone and social media where they dish out all sorts of things, including fake news. I also chat with my children.
What would be your advice to Nigerians at this point in time?
The situation in Nigeria now is so terrible that one does not know what to say. But the fact is that Nigerians deserve a better deal. Politics should not be as bitter as it is. Our leaders should eschew corruption because it is the biggest problem in our country. If you compare Nigeria with overseas, the difference is very clear. The situation is so bad. If restructuring is the answer, so be it. Nigerians should love one another.
